A poem a week for grades K-5 for the whole school year plus curriculum connections for every poem

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Week 8

Time to share another poem from The Poetry Friday Anthology. It's Week 8 and our theme is "In the Air." This week's example poem is from Grade 5 and it is a pour quoi poem by Joseph Bruchac. Here is a portion of the poem.

How the Geese Became Chiefs of the Birds
by Joseph Bruchac

Long ago it is said
when the small birds flew
south for the winter
and north for the spring,
sometimes they got lost
and could not find their way.

So Gluskonba
spoke to the geese.
From now on,
you will be the chiefs
of all the birds.

Some of you will go first,
....

And some of you
will be the last
...

[and the poem ends:]

And so it is to this day.

[Read the entire poem on p. 234.]

Take 5
1. Point out to students that many poems are funny, but some are quiet and thoughtful—like this one based on a Native American legend from the Abenaki people. (You may also need to provide background on Gluskonba, known as “the one who helps the people.”)

2. Next, divide the students into two groups—one to read the third stanza and one to read the fourth stanza while you read the rest of the poem, including the final line. Display the text of the poem to provide support.

3. For discussion: Which do you prefer: leading or helping in a supporting role?

4. Talk with students about how many poems rhyme, but not all. This poem is an example of free verse. It doesn’t feature a regular rhyme, but guide students in seeing the rhythm provided by the structure of short lines and key words used to paint a picture in your mind.

5. Pair this poem with “How the Birds Got Their Colors” also by Joseph Bruchac (3rd Grade, Week 20).

Join the rest of the Poetry Friday gathering hosted by Irene Latham (another one of the lovely poets featured in The Poetry Friday Anthology) at Live Your Poemhere.

1 comment:

This is a poem where an excerpt simply doesn't do it justice. (Sorry!) There are single grade-level e-books that can be borrowed for free through the Kindle Lending Library--so if you can, get the 5th grade e-book and read this poem. Or if you haven't asked yet to buy this book for your library, maybe now's the time!

I love this poem because I see it as opening up a great discussion about leadership. It's not just the birds in the front who lead; our leaders are also those last birds who make sure the small birds do not lose their way. (The poem says it a lot better than that!)

Buy your copy now

Sharing THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY with kids in Bali!

PFA Poets Rock the Fay Kaigler Festival at USM in Hattiesburg!

April Halprin Wayland, Robyn Hood Black & Irene Latham

Newsflash!

"My principal and I wrote a grant for a poetry project with the main focus being the use of The Poetry Friday Anthology in our school. We were just notified that we will get enough money to purchase the book for every teacher in grades K - 2 and every Reading teacher in grades 3 - 5. This is a district grant awarded to our school, in particular. Isn't that wonderful? Our hope is that our students will be exposed to poetry year round beginning in the Fall of this year (2013)."Zulema Bewley, LibrarianHarry Shimotsu Elementary (Mission, TX)

Poet Charles Waters hits the big time!

Another PFA Success Story

I held a "Snuggle with Your Favorite Book at Your Library" week with hot chocolate and cookies served to each student (870 students). I announced it a week before and asked them to bring their snuggies or they could take a puppet or stuffed animal that I have plenty of in the library. Then, after checking out books, I served hot chocolate and cookies, and the students were allowed to read wherever they wanted to sit, with a friend or alone, at the table or on the floor... I grabbed my favorite book, The Poetry Friday Anthology, of course, and read along with them. At some point I'd ask my students to excuse me for the interruption, and I'd read a poem to all.

When reading the poem, "Watching Football," by Janet Wong, the first-grade class shouted "Woohoo" and "Touchdown" so loudly that the teacher who happened to be in the work room next door peeked in asking what we were watching. "No, we are not watching anything, we are helping Mrs. Zuljevic read the poem 'Watching Football' by Janet Wong," the students answered laughing. :) "Oh...," we heard her say. We invited her to stay for a cup of hot chocolate and a cookie and to hear us recite the poem once more. So she did. She said that it was the most wonderful poetry experience for her.

P.S. Our Annual Poetry Contest ended, and I have 358 poems turned in... WOW! It feels great to see that the seed I planted is yielding more and more fruit every year. I recruited several of my bilingual colleagues, our principal, and a reading recovery teacher to help me with evaluation. As you can tell, our "poetry army" is growing here in Pasco, WA. :)

Dr. Vida Zuljevic and Students in Pasco, WA

Success Stories

I just finished my last "performance" with a kindergarten class and after I sang "Teddy Wear" (Week 9) they all shouted "again, again." So we had a repeat performance and they danced in their seats while I sang. I am definitely not Beyonce, but I felt like a rock star after they clapped. So much fun! Zulema BewleyLibrarian , Harry Shimotsu Elementary Mission, TX

Ken Slesarik and eager student in AZ

Poetry Friday Ambassadors

We are proud to announce that we now havePoetry Friday Ambassadors in 16 states, plus Ontario, Canada.